Carmarthenshire

Carmarthenshire's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census show there were changes in knowledge of the Welsh language, jobs and health.

The population passed 180,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Carmarthenshire increased by 6.3%, from almost 173,000 to 184,000.

The addition of just under 11,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Carmarthenshire was home to, on average, 0.56 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Carmarthenshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Carmarthenshire increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This remote area had a slightly higher average age than Denbighshire, a statistically similar local authority area (44 years of age) and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across Wales (41 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 6,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 13% of people in Carmarthenshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Carmarthenshire fell from 50% to 44% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

This was the largest decline in the proportion of Welsh speakers of any local authority area in the country. Of the few areas where knowledge of the Welsh language increased, Monmouthshire saw the largest change (from 9.0% to 9.9%).

There are 5,754 fewer people living in Carmarthenshire who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 16,023.

In nearby Ceredigion, 47% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 52% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was higher than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

This area saw Wales' third-largest rise in the proportion of employed people.

During this period, Carmarthenshire fell below Powys to become the Wales local authority area with the fifth-lowest percentage of employed people.

In 2011, just under one in two (48%) people aged 16 to 74 in Carmarthenshire said they were employed, compared with 43% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed increased from 3.4% to 3.7%.

The largest increase occurred in Merthyr Tydfil (from 44% to 50%) followed by Pembrokeshire (from 42% to 46%).

The rate of employment was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were employed across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The proportion of households with children fell in Carmarthenshire, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales, except Isle of Anglesey and Vale of Glamorgan.

Across Wales, the proportion of households with children fell from 30% to 28% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in Ceredigion fell from 25% to 23%.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households in Carmarthenshire had at least one dependent child, compared with 29% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 61% to 62%.

The largest increase occurred in Wrexham (from 30% to 30%) followed by Denbighshire (from 28% to 27%).

The proportion of households with children was lower than across Wales

Percentage of households that with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Carmarthenshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 14% to 8.4% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (75%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 62% in 2001. The percentage of Carmarthenshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell faster here than in Ceredigion (from 10% in 2001 to 6.3% in 2011). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 12% to 7.6%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Carmarthenshire decreased by 5.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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